Wahkeena and Fairy Falls, Oregon 6/25/12

Wahkeena (which means "most beautiful in Yakama) Falls

 Wahkeena Creek (drive East on I-84 to Bridalveil exit 28, turn left on the Historic Columbia River Highway for 2.5 miles) is a tiny isolated watershed that hosts eight endemic insect species including two unique species of caddis flies that live nowhere else in the world.

The "More Difficult" trail really applies to almost all trails in the Gorge - up and down is the lay of the land here.  The first 3/4 mile of the trail to Fairy Falls is paved, so how difficult can it be?

I think this flower is in the Valerian family

 Lemmon overlook looking toward Washington.

Secure your puppy before taking pictures.

Fairy Falls - an enchanted place

 The kind of place Mr. Thornsby would like, but I can only keep track of either a puppy or a unicorn, but not both on the trail.  Fairy Falls is about 1 mile up the trail, Wahkeena Falls is close to the road.

Upper Latourell Falls 6/20/12

The parking area for Latourell Falls is closed until October 2012 and access is limited to the west end of the trail which intersects with the Historic Columbia River Highway west of the parking area (there is a pullout with space for a handful of cars only).  However, it appears that a fabulous new bathroom is among the improvements, so we will wait patiently.

Pileated Woodpeckers made these large holes in
this snag looking for grubs

Goat's Beard blooming next to
the stream

My new hiking partner, Deagan, goes for his first walk in the woods - he doesn't know how to pose for the camera yet!

Upper Latourell Falls

Still playing hide and seek with the sun this June

The trail ends at the falls

Lots of tiger lilies blooming this month

Let the Waterfalls begin! (March 3, 2012)

Find Latourell Falls on the Historic Columbia River Highway a few miles East of Corbett, Oregon.  The land that makes up the State Park where the falls is located was donated by Guy Talbot at the time the highway was constructed.  This is the lower falls, a short walk from the parking area.  Unicorns love waterfalls, so Mr. Thornsby is thrilled that the Friends of the Columbia River Gorge have put together the 25 waterfall challenge this year.

 At the base of the lower falls - always a cool and windy spot whatever the time of year.

 Columnar basalt forms the wall behind the waterfall.  From here the creek goes a short distance into the Columbia River.

Lichens cover the rock face next to the falls

 A short distance to the West is Shepperd's Dell - another land donation that was inspired by the construction of the HCRH.  There are only a couple of pull-outs by the road here and you walk a very short distance to overlook the falls.

 
 Some people claim that the Columbia River Gorge contains the highest concentration of waterfalls in the world. Yes, I think this is possible - aren't we fortunate to have this special place in our backyard?

 






 Mr. Thornsby says the falling water increases humidity and positive ions in the air - it's all good!

Looking back at the highway from the Dell

Ferns love the waterfalls, too.  These are Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant), an important winter food for deer and elk in some areas.

Signs of Spring - February 2012

 We found lilies blooming near
Bridal Veil Falls in the last week
of February.

The view from the cliffs doesn't show much new green

            But ravens are building their nests

And violets are underfoot

 And Friends of the Columbia River Gorge have announced a new hiking challenge for this season:

"Waterfall Wanderlust"  -
25 waterfalls to visit before the end of October this year.  Once again a grand prize - this time a rafting trip!

Friends of the Columbia River Gorge website






Go to "Gorge Hikes" tab and pull down "Waterfall Wanderlust" for more information.

White River State Wildlife Area

 South of The Dalles, and not in the Gorge, but we went there anyway.  Take State Hwy 197 South from The Dalles past Dufur and just before Tygh Valley turn Right on Shadybrook Road.  Go a couple of miles until this sign.  The road closes in December (will open in spring) and you walk in.

There is a lot of wildlife here - deer are plentiful and so are bobcats (see tracks at right).  Woodpeckers would not remain still for photos today.

Blacktail deer near the creek

The Wildlife Area includes Oak Forest, Grasslands, and rim rock

There is some farm land also. 

Jordan Creek runs near the road in the valley

 On the way home, we drove back over Highway 26 and stopped at the Mt Hood Brew Pub in Government Camp. 

Had some hearty pizza -
Mr Thrornsby thinks that the crust recipe as well as the pizza varieties have changed in recent months, but it is still a good lunch.

Winter Solstice in the Gorge 2011

 Lingering high pressure has given us foggy yet mostly dry weather, unusual in December.  Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year and the middle of winter (not the first day of winter, but midwinter, just as June 21 is midsummer's day).  After today, the days will be getting longer!

 

 Mirror Pond in Rooster Rock State Park.  Swans hang out here in the winter.

 Time to get poetic:

Some Trees by John Ashbery

These are amazing:  each
Joining a neighbour, as though speech
Were still a performance.
Arranging by chance

 To meet as far this morning
From the world as agreeing
With it, you and I
Are suddenly what the trees try

 To tell us we are:
That their merely being there
Mean something; that soon
We may touch, love, explain.

 And glad not to have invented
Such comeliness, we are surrounded:
A silence already filled with noises,
A canvas on which emerges

 A chorus of smiles, a winter morning.
Placed in a puzzling light, and moving,
Our days put on such reticence
These accents seem their own defence.